IP Library Granted Patent US 12,281,636
Granted Patent B2
US 12,281,636 · App. 18/735,354 · Granted Apr 22, 2025

Method of servicing or installing a component of a wind turbine using a crane

Inventor: Alexander Miller (Salzbergen, DE)
Assignee: GENERAL ELECTRIC RENOVABLES ESPAÑA S.L.
F03D13/139F03D80/50F03D13/104F03D13/116F03D13/122F05B2230/61
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,281,636
App. No.
18/735,354
Granted
Apr 22, 2025
Kind
B2
Abstract

A method ( 100 ) of servicing or installing a component of a wind turbine ( 10 ) using a crane ( 50 ), the wind turbine ( 10 ) comprising a nacelle ( 16 ) and a rotor hub ( 20 ) coupled to the nacelle ( 16 ) and rotatable about a rotor axis, the method ( 100 ) comprising rotating the rotor hub ( 20 ) about the rotor axis to a first rotational position; lifting the crane ( 50 ) to the rotor hub ( 20 ) while the rotor hub ( 20 ) is positioned at the first rotational position; mounting the crane ( 50 ) to a mounting portion ( 21 ) of the rotor hub ( 20 ) while the rotor hub ( 20 ) is positioned at the first rotational position; and rotating the rotor hub ( 20 ) together with the crane ( 50 ) from the first rotational position to a second rotational position.

Claims (18)

1. A method of servicing or installing a component of a wind turbine using a crane, the wind turbine including a nacelle and a rotor hub coupled to the nacelle and rotatable about a rotor axis, the method comprising:

rotating the rotor hub about the rotor axis to a first rotational position;

lifting the crane to the rotor hub while the rotor hub is positioned at the first rotational position;

wherein the crane includes a crane base, the method comprising mounting the crane base to a mounting portion of the rotor hub while the rotor hub is positioned at the first rotational position;

rotating the rotor hub together with the crane from the first rotational position to a second rotational position; and

after rotating the rotor hub together with the crane from the first rotational position to the second rotational position, connecting at least one load supporting arm from the crane base into the nacelle through an access in a roof of the nacelle to a bedplate of the nacelle.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising using a connecting device arranged through the rotor hub for lifting the crane to the rotor hub.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein mounting the crane to the mounting portion comprises fastening the crane base to the mounting portion in a fastening operation performed inside the rotor hub.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the mounting portion is at least partially located on an outer surface of the rotor hub between two blade flanges of the rotor hub.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the rotor hub is rotated from the first rotational position to the second rotational position using a drive tool installed in the nacelle to rotate a main shaft of the wind turbine coupled to the rotor hub.

6. The method of claim 1 , further comprising;

after rotating the rotor hub together with the crane from the first rotational position to the second rotational position, providing the access for the load supporting arm through the roof of the nacelle by lifting at least a portion of the roof of the nacelle using the crane.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein, in the first rotational position, the mounting portion of the rotor hub is directed in a downward direction.

8. The method of claim 7 , wherein, in the second rotational position, the mounting portion of the rotor hub is directed in an upward direction.

9. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

lifting the component of the wind turbine using the crane.

10. The method of claim 9 , wherein the component of the wind turbine is a component of a drivetrain of the wind turbine.

11. The method of claim 9 , wherein the component of the wind turbine is a rotor blade or a segment of a rotor blade.

Assignments (3)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jul 10, 2024
From: GE WIND ENERGY GMBH
To: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
Reel/Frame 067949/0026 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jul 10, 2024
From: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
To: GENERAL ELECTRIC RENOVABLES ESPAÑA S.L.
Reel/Frame 067949/0081 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jun 6, 2024
From: MILLER, ALEXANDER
To: GE WIND ENERGY GMBH
Reel/Frame 067639/0072 →
Priority Claims (1)
EP 23177980 · Jun 7, 2023 · regional
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20240410335A1 · Dec 12, 2024
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